Carnaross progressed to the last four in the Junior Championship with a deserved victory over Castletown in Kells.
Junior Championship (Quarter Final)
Played in Kells – 10/10/2021
The Pairc in Kells was the venue for this quarter final clash between Carnaross and Castletown and the Kells club excelled as hosts. The pitch was in fantastic condition, they supplied a full digital programme and provided up to date information with the scoreboard.
On the pitch, Carnaross registered the first score of the game through a converted 45 from Frank O’Reilly. Castletown responded instantly with two points from play in 60 seconds. Carnaross then upped the intensity and hit the next 8 points of the game. Frank converted two frees either side of a fine solo effort by Darragh O’Reilly. Pierce Fleming was mopping out lots of loose possession around the middle which afforded the forwards scoring chances.
Niall McDonnell shone over the hour and he kicked over his first point of the day before the water break. The Ross continued to snuff out the Castletown attacks with Cormac O’Reilly to the fore in the rear guard. Fleming got forward to extend the lead before Frank converted another free to stretch the lead out to 6. The highlight of the first half was a converted sideline by Frank O’Reilly into the town end of the Pairc. Castletown registered the final score of the first half to leave it 10 points to 3 at the turn of ends.
Castletown had been quite flat in the first half and in the second half they came out of the blocks with a point to prove. The third quarter brought some bite to the contest as Castletown began to make their presence felt. Niall McDonnell doubled his afternoon’s tally with a well taken curled effort from distance before the 2020 Intermediate side hit a bit of form. They scored three points in a row as the game became quite disjointed.
Eventually the half back line of Carnaross began to establish a foothold on proceedings again leading to 3 of the next 4 scores. Niall McDonnell pointed again before Frank and Darragh kept the scoreboard ticking over. The tide had been stemmed and Castletown knew that goals were needed to keep their championship hopes alive. They delivered numerous high balls into the square but the full-back line of Carnaross were equal to their efforts and snubbed them out.
Castletown did break through on goal but Shane McNiffe made a fine double save to scupper any comeback hopes. The Ross emptied the bench which brought some renewed vigour with Frank adding another point from play before the industrious McDermott clipped over two fine scores to bring the match to a conclusion.
Carnaross were deserved victors on the day when the absence of Castletown’s talisman, Kevin Ross, was telling. The Hoops now go on to face Dunsany in the semi-final.
Carnaross: Shane McNiffe, Ian Donoghue, Cormac O’Reilly, Tomas Plunkett, Odhran Farrelly, James O’Connor, Cian O’Reilly, Cian McGlynn, Pierce Fleming (0-1), Cormac Yore, Paddy McDermott (0-2), Darragh O’Reilly (0-2), Dillon Fox, Niall McDonnell (0-3), Frank O’Reilly (0-8). Subs Paddy Farnan, Shane O’Reilly, Shane Casserly, Jack Roche and Richard Mulvey.
